Starter for internal-combustion engines.



C. L. JOHNSTON.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL OOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED IERI/15,1813. 1,105,520. Patented July 28, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L Il EL m C. L. JOHNSTON.

STARTEN EOE INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.25,1913.

1,1 05,520, Patented July 28,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

O m' O Q' WTVESSES.' N 6 NVEVT? www fm 5%@ S Comm. M y Z A TTHNEY C. L. JOHNSTUN. STARTER TOR INTERNAL OOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FBILZS, 1913.

Patented July 28, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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@QQ/M va/rem@ )da ATTORNEY UNITED STATEMS OFFICE.

CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HIRAM T. HALL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

T0 all zo/1.0m 'it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. JorIN- s'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvments in pneumatic engine-starters, and more particularly to a type of starter especially designed for starting internal-combustion engines by applying stored up power to the engine crank-shaft to rotate the same independently of the power of the engine itself unt-il the engine operates under its own power.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a pneumatic appliance which is simple in construction, which may be used as an air motor for rotating the enginecrank, and which, after the engine is started and is operating under its own power is capable of being converted into a compressor and operated by the started engine for replenishing the pressure used in starting the engine.

A further and important object is to provide automatically operated means for dis` connecting the device from the engine shaft, thus stopping its action and restoring the various parts to a position for operating as a starting motor, upon the air in the air storage tank attaining a predetermined pres sure.

' With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims; it being' understood t-hat various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which for purposes of illustration, my starter is disclosed as supported by a Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1913.

Patented July 28, 19114.

serial No. 750,504.

motor vehicle frame and in coperative relation with the engine shaft thereof, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, disclosing the arrangement of the cylinders and the mounting of the pistons therein. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, disclosing the crank-shaft, and the rotary valve carried and operated thereby, for alternately admitting' air under pressure into the cylinders, to operate the pistons therein. Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on line www-Fig. 2, disclosing one of the oscillating valves for controlling the admission of air under pressure into the cylinders, and the check valves employed when the device is used as a compressor. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line rw--fw-Fg 2, disclosing more fully the mechanism for stopping the operation of the apparatus as a. compressor when the air in the storage reservoir attains a predetermined pressure. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line g/-y--Fig 2, disclosing the rotary valve carried and operated by the drive shaft for altemately admitting air under pressure to the cylinders. Fig. G is a sectional view taken on line z-z--Fig 2, disclosing more fully the arrangement of the intake and exhaust passages of the rotary valve. Fig. 7 is a view in detail of the clutch between the starting device and the engine shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the reference numerals 1. designate oppositely disposed fixed cylinders, connected at their inner ends by the cranlocase 2, and carrying at their outer ends brackets 3. which are connected to the frame 4 of a vehicle, as in Fig. 1. Slidably mounted in each cylinder is a piston 5 carrying a piston rod G, which is pivotally connected to a crank-shaft 7, rotatably mounted in bearings 8 in the crank-case 2. Carried at the outer squared end 9 of the crank shaft 7 is a circular rotary valve 10, resting at its inner surface on the crank-case 2. Secured to its outer surface is a ratchet 11.

The valve structure is inclosed by a housing 12, secured to the crank-case 2 and provided with an opening 13, normally closed by the cap 14 and through which a starting crank may be inserted for rotating the shaft manually, if necessary. A

The valve 1() is provided in the body thereof with inlet and exhaust channels 15 and 16, which, when the shaft 7 is rotated, alternately communicate withh the inner end of an intake and exhaust channel 17, one of which channels extends longitudinally of each cylinder and communicates at it-s outer end with the interior of the cylinder through the bore 18 of a. rotatably mounted tapered valve 19. The valve 19 is retained in position by the plat-e 20, and is provided with an arm 21 extended from the end thereof, which is pivotally connected through a link 22 with an operating arm 23, carried by the shaft 24 which is rotatably mounted in brackets 25, depending from the engine cylinders, and which is in turn oscillated through the arm 26, by the operating rod 27 'which extends to any suitable point within convenient reach of the operator,

The inlet channel 15 of the valve 10 is provided with a port 28, which is at all times in communication with the interior of the housing 12 into which leads an inlet pipe 29 connected'to a tank 29 for containing air under pressure, and the flow of air into the housing is controlled by a normally seated pressure actuated valve 30, which is operated by a suitable finger 31 carried by the shaft 24.

Formed in the crank-case 2 and communicating with the exhaust channel '16 is an exhaust port 32, which communicates through a duct 33 with the atmosphere, as in Fig. 6.

From the above construction it will be apparent that when the operator moves the rod 27 in the direction of the arrow-Fig. 4, the valves 19 will be rotated to connect the bore 18 thereof with the interior of the cylinders, and the finger 31 will open the valve 30, which will admit air under compression into the inlet channel 15 of the valve 10, whence it flows into the inlet channel 17 in communication therewith, for operating the piston which is on its power stroke; and the other piston being on its return stroke will force the air in advance of it outwardly through the passage 17, exhaust channel 16, and duct 33 to the atmosphere, and as the crank-shaft revolves the rotary valve 10 will also revolve and the pistons in the respective cylinders will be alternately o-n their power stroke.

The clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the crank-shaft 7 and the engine shaft 34, is constructed and operates in the following manner Pinned to the engine shaft 34 is a substantially circular cupshaped member 35, the inner surface of the peripheral rim 36 of which overhangs in spaced relation the periphery of a substantially cylindrical member 37, keyed to rotate with the crank-shaft 7 and the member 37 carries on its peripheral face, the oppositely working pivoted pawls 33 and 39, which are adapted to engage the respective oppositely disposed shoulders 40 and 41 formed on the inner peripheral surface 36 of the member 35. The pawl 38 is forced outwardly in a position to engage the surface 40 by a spring 42, and it will be apparent that when the starter is operating to start the engine, the member 37 rotating in the direction of the arrow- Fig 7, will force the pawl 38 into contact with its shoulder 40, which will cause the members 35 and 37 to rotate in unison, and the member 35 being carried by the engine shaft 34 will rotate the same and cause t-he engine to operate under its own power, after which time the device will be converted into a compressor, as will now be described, and operated by the engine for recharging the air reservoir 29. The engine operating under its own power causes the member 35 to rotate, forcing the shoulder 41 into cont-act with the pawl 39, rotating the member 37 and operating the starter as a compressor, until such time as the pawl 39 is disengaged from the shoulder 41, by a plate 43, loosely mounted on the shaft 24 and'operated by a pin 44 carried by the shaft 24, and projecting into a wide slot 45, formed at the base of said plate. The pawl when disengaged from the shoulder 41 disconnects the crank-shaft from the engine shaft, and permits the compressor to stop with the respective parts in the position as disclosed in the drawings, with one piston at the beginning of its power stroke, and ready to be operated as a starter.

Upon the rod 27 being operated to rotate 'the valves 19 to open the communication between the cylinders and the channels 17, the plate 43 is withdrawn from under the pawl 39 by the pin 44 and a sleeve 46 rov tatably mounted on the shaft 24 and carrying a lug 47 is also rotated, the lug passing under a pivoted catch: 48. The finger 31 is forced into contact with the stem of the valve 30 permitting air under pressure to enter and alternately operate the pistons 5, which through the crankshaft and pawl 33 transmit power to the engine shaft, to operate the same and cause the engine to operate. under its own power. When the rod 27 is moved in the opposite direction to the arrow in Fig. 4, to release the finger 31 from con tact with the stem of the valve 30 and rotate the valve 19 to a position as in Fig. 2, the lug 47 in its return movement is engaged by the pivoted catch 48 and the starter is converted into a compressor and operated through the pawl 39 by the engine it has started.

When operated as a compressor and on each suction stroke of the pistons, air is drawn through a port 49, formed in a casing 50 and controlled b v an inwardly opening cup-shaped check-valve 51, the flanged side walls 52 of which are slotted as at 53 and through which slots the air is drawn into the interior of each cylinder through an opening 54 which is of a diameter' slightly smaller than the port 49. Upon the compression stroke of the pistons the air is forced fromy each cylinder through an opening 55 controlled by an outwardly opening check valve 56, of similar construction to valve 51, and mounted in a casing 57 from which l-eads a pipe 5S connected through a branch pipe 59 with the tank 29 for containing the air under pressure.

Communicating with the pipe 29, between the valve 30 thereof and the air pressurev tank 25V, through the pipe (S0, is a diaphragm valve 61 of any well known construction, provided with a stem 62, which, when the air in the air pressure tank attains a predetermined pressure is forced upwardly into engagement with the underside of the catch 48, releasing the same from the lug 47 which permits the spring 63 to force the plate i3 beneath the pawl 39, and disengage the same from its seat, which will disconnect the engine shaft from the crank-shaft, and permit the pistons to stop in a position as in the drawings.

It will be apparent that when the device is operated as a motor, the air under com pression entering the cylinders will not unseat the checlcvalves 5l and 56, owing to the greater surface which is in communication with the air under pressure through the pipes 58 and and that by positioning the plate 43 to disengage the pawl 39 from the seat 40, as in Fig. 7, that one piston `is always at the beginning of its movement on a working stroke, when it is again desired to operate the device as a starter to start the engine.

I claim l. An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air actuated motor con* vertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, means for admitting air from the air storage reservoir to the motor for operating the same to start the engine, means for shutting cti3 the flow of air thereto upon the starting of the engine to convert the motor into a compressor, a valve controlled air supply inlet to the motor, a valve controlled connection from the motor to the storage reservoir adapted for recharging the air storage reservoir when said motor is acting as a compressor, means for connecting the motor with the engine shaft upon the starting of the motor to start the engine, means connecting the motor and engine shaft and actuated upon the starting of the engine for operating the compressor and means for actuating the last mentioned means whereby said last mentioned means will be rendered inoperative on the air in, the storage reser voir attaining a predetermined pressure.

2. An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air actuated motor convertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, means for admitting air from the storage reservoir tothe motor for operating the same to start the engine, means for shutting off the flow of air thereto upon the starting of the engine to convert the motor into a compressor, a valve controlled air supply inlet to the motor, a valve controlledl connection from the motor to the reservoir adapted for recharging the air storage reservoir when the motor is acting as a compressor, a clutch mechanism interposed between the motor and the engine shaft, said mechanism including a pawl which is thrown .into operation upon the starting of the motor to start the engine, a second pawl operating independently of the first pawl and thrown into operation upon the starting of the engine for operating the compressor, and means for throwing said last mentioned pawl into inoperative position on the air in the air storage reservoir attainingapredetermined pressure.

3. An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air actuated motor convertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, said motor comprising cylinders having pistons mounted therein and a crank shaft connecting the pistons, means connecting the crank shaft and engine shaft, a valve controlled connection between the air storage reservoir and the cylinders, means for opening and closing said connection, means operated by the rotation of the crank shaft for alternately admitting air under pressure from the air storage reservoir to the cylinders when said connection is opened for operating the motor to start the engine, a valve controlled air supply inlet to the cylinders, a second valve controlled connection therefrom to the storage reservoir adapted when the first connection is closed Jfor converting a motor into a compressor to be operated by the engine for recharging the air storage reservoir, and means for disconnecting the motor and the engine when the air in the storage tank reaches a predetermined pressure.

4. An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air actuated motor convertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, said motor comprising oppositely disposed xed cylinders having pistons mounted therein, a crank shaft connecting said pistons, means connecting the crank shaft and engine shaft, a valve controlled connection between the air reservoir and the cylinders, means for opening and closing said connection, a rotary valve carried by the crank shaft and disposed between the valve which controls said connection and the air storage reservoir and adapted upon the opening of said valve controlled connection for alternately admitting air under pressure from the air storage reservoir to the cylinders for operating the motor to start the engine, a valve controlled air supply inlet to the cylinders, a second valve controlled connection therefrom adapted when the first connection is closed for converting the motor into a compressor to be operated by the engine for recharging the air storage reservoir, means connecting the motor and engine shaft and operating independently of the first mentioned connection between the motor and said shaft, said last mentioned means being thrown into action when the engine starts whereby the motor is operated as a compressor, and means thrown into operation by the air in the storage tank when the same reaches, a predetermined pressure for rendering the second mentioned connection between the motor and engine inoperative.

An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air operated motor convertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, said motor comprising cylinders having pistons mounted therein, a crank shaft connecting said pistons, the cylinders being provided with intake and exhaust channels, a connection between the air stor age reservoir and the cylinders through said channels, said connection including` a valve which consonantly admits air from the resv ervoir to one cylinder and receives the eX- haust of air from the other cylinder, means for connecting the crank shaft with the engine shaft whereby the motor acts as a starter, and means adapted to periodically connect the crank shaft and the en gine shaft whereby the motor will be actuated to supply air under pressure to the reservoir.

6. An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air actuated motor convertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, a clutch between the motor and engine shaft, means for admitting air from the air storage reservoir to the motor for operating the same to start the engine and for shutting ofi' the flow of air thereto upon the starting of the engine to convert the motor into a compressor operated by the engine for recharging the air storage reservoir, means for admitting air to the motor at in tervals, a connection between the motor and vertible from a motor to a compressor and vice versa, said motor comprising opposed fixed cylinders having pistons mounted therein and a crank shaft connecting said pistons, a clutch between the crank shaft and engine shaft, a connection between the air storage reservoir and the cylinders, a rotary valve actuated by the crank shaft for alternately admitting air under compression into the cylinders for operating the pistons to start the engine, means for converting the motor into a compressor for recharging the air in the air storage reservoir, an air supply inlet in the cylinders communicating with the outside atmosphere for admitting air into the cylinders on the suction stroke of the pistons, a connection between the cylinders and the air storage reservoir, and through which air under compression is forced into the air storage reservoir on the compression stroke of the pistons, valves controlling said compressor inlet and outlet constructed and disposed to present unequal surfaces to effect their automatic seating under internal cylinder pressure when the device is operatingas a motor to start the engine, land means for` throwing said clutch into inoperative position on the air in the air storage reservoir attaining a given pres sure.

8. An engine starter including an air storage reservoir, an air actuated motor convertible from a motor tov a compressor and vice versa, said motor comprising opposed fixed cylinders having pistons mounted therein and a crank shaft connecting said pistons, a clutch between the crank shaft and engine shaft, a connection between the air storage reservoir and the cylinders, a rotary valve carried by the crank shaft for alternately admitting air under compression into the cylinders for operating the pistons to start the engine, means for converting the motor into a compressor for recharging the air storage reservoir, an air supply inlet in the cylinders communicating with the outside atmosphere for admitting air into the cylinders on the suction stroke of the pistons, a connection between the cylinders and the air storage reservoir, and through which operative position on the air in the air storlo age reservoir attaining a given pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

WM. F. BOOTH, D. B. RICHARDS.

air under compression is forced into the air storage reservoir on the compression stroke of the pistons, valves controlling said compressor inlet and outlet constructed and disposed to present unequal pressure surfaces to effect their automatic seating under inter'- nal cylinder pressure when the device is operating as a motor to start the engine, and means for throwing said clutch into n- Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

